I would rather walk with a friend in the dark
than walk alone in the light.
~ Helen Keller
All of us know the name Helen Keller as she was nothing short of extraordinary. But equally extraordinary was Anne Sullivan, Helen's instructor, governess, and life long companion. Most of us, when we think of the story of Helen Keller, focus on the amazing feat of a blind, deaf, and mute child learning to read, write and communicate through learning sign language. We ask ourselves, "How ever did she accomplish this?" It is simply awing. Seldom, however, is the same emphasis made on the efforts embarked upon by Anne Sullivan, who in her own right was just as awe inspiring.
Anne's childhood was nothing less than tragically challenging. She was the eldest of 3 children born to immigrants who came to America from Ireland during the Great Famine. At the age of five, she contracted trachoma, which made her nearly blind. At the age of eight, her mother died from tuberculosis and in the two years following her father abandoned them in fear he could not raise them on his own. Her sister was sent to live with an aunt and she and her younger brother were raised in Almshouse, a shelter for the destitute and ailing poor, in Tewkesbury, MA. Four months into his stay, her brother died from tuberculosis.
Following two unsuccessful eye operations, Anne was sent to Soeurs de la Charite Hospital in Lowell, MA amid investigations into accusations against Almshouse for cruelty, sexually perverted practices and cannibalism. While at Soeurs de la Charite she had another unsuccessful operation. She endured yet another unsuccessful operation at the Lowell City Infirmary after which she was transferred, under duress, back to Almshouse where she was housed with single mothers and unmarried pregnant women. The Almshouse underwent a subsequent investigation and Anne pleaded with the State Inspector to allow her admittance to the Perkins School for the Blind to which her admittance was ultimately granted.
While attending Perkins, Anne learned the manual alphabet from friend and former graduate of the school, Laura Bridgman. She received a series of operations and her eyesight was significantly improved. In 1886, at the age of 20, she graduated as class Valedictorian. The summer following her graduation, Director of Perkins, Michael Anagnos, recommended Anne as a teacher for a then seven-year-old Helen Keller. She moved into the Keller home and began her work with Helen on March 3, 1887 in Tuscumbia, AL. This would be the start of their 49-year friendship.
Anne was able to teach Helen 575 manual words, multiplication tables and the Braille system. She did this by knowing Helen and teaching her in a way that was specific to the young girl she had taken the time to know. She tailored the words to what Helen was interested in. In the years to come, she helped Helen to attend Perkins and stayed with her during her attendance. While there Helen became a public symbol for the school as a result of her remarkable progress. Sullivan too enjoyed great influence at the school. At the age of 35, following a stroke, Anne's sight worsened from a diagnosis of seriously visually impaired to completely blind. Despite this setback, Anne remained Helen's faithful friend and companion assisting her in her education which included Helen being the first DeafBlind person to obtain a college degree. Helen received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1904 from Radcliffe College.
Not to diminish the accomplishments of Helen in any way, but we should pause to consider the impact Anne had on the life of her friend. Helen recognized that value as she herself stated, "I would rather walk with a friend in the dark than walk alone in the light." Certainly, that is the statement of an individual who understood the value of a true friend. None of us know what Helen's story would have been if not for Anne. But we can imagine that it would have not been the story we know today. Anne walked into the darkness, found Helen, and walked her into the light. She acknowledged who Helen was as a person, and used that knowledge to help Helen become all she was intended to be.
Anne understood struggle. Anne understood facing darkness. Anne took what she had experienced herself, and instead of letting it defeat her, she turned it into something beautiful. How can we as individuals turn our own darkness into something that transcends the darkness itself, and instead becomes a place of shared understanding? We walk. We look at our friends where they stand and we offer to meet them there. Yes, Helen Keller's story is remarkable. But I am sure Helen would agree that the story of Anne Sullivan is equally so. Let us look to her example and be that kind of friend.
Lash, Joseph (1980). Helen and teacher: the story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan Macy. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 9780440036548.
Nielsen, Kim E. (2009). Beyond the miracle worker: the remarkable life of Anne Sullivan Macy and her extraordinary friendship with Helen Keller. Boston: Beacon Press. ISBN 9780807050507.
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